race out the whole course of the
river as far as we can see; and there above, the sky looks like purple
velvet sewn all over with stars, just as if they were the reflections of
the fire-flies."

"Bosh!" said Captain Down, striking a match to light a cigar.

"Why bosh?"

"Fancy--poetry. I think I shall have a nap. It's too hot to smoke."

"Don't."

"What! not smoke?"

"No; don't go to sleep. You will get fever."

"Who says so?"

"The Doctor."

"Oh, bother!"

"Now then, what do you say to going as far as his bungalow and telling
the ladies that the river has never looked more beautiful?"

_Plosh_!

"Beautiful river!" said the Captain mockingly. "Like to take them on it
perhaps in a boat?"

"Well, it would be very nice, with a couple of good men to pole it
along."

"Of course; and every moment expecting to see the horrible snout of one
of those brutal beasts shoved over the side to hook one out."

"Nonsense!" said Archie impatiently.

"Nonsense? Why, they often upset a boat when they are hungry, and lay
hold of a nice, juicy native, to take him down and stuff him in some
hole in the bank to get tender for the next feed."

"Oh, they would never attack a boat when men are splashing about with
poles."

"Well, you don't catch me taking ladies out on a dark night, unless it's
in a big dragon-boat with plenty of men on board; and then I should like
to have a gun."

"They are horrible beasts," said Archie, "and I wonder that the Malay
fellows don't try to exterminate them."

"Ah! Go in pluckily and make a decent use of those crooked krises of
theirs. There would be some sense in having them poisoned then."

"Old Morley says he has never seen a kris-wound turn bad, and he has
doctored scores. Says it's all fudge about their being poisoned."

"Well, he ought to know," said the Captain; "but there's no go in these
Malay fellows. I don't believe they would stir even if they saw one of
their women snatched off the bank where she had gone to fetch water."

The officer had been giving his opinions in a low, subdued voice, and
Archie Maine was about to break out in defence of the people amongst
whom they were stationed; but he closed his half-parted lips, for the
silence within the mess-room was broken by the voice of the Resident,
who suddenly broke out with:

"To go on with what I was saying at dinner--"

"Eh?" said the Major drowsily; and the two young men in the veranda
turned slightly, to